Versatile access to C-4-substituted 2-amino-1,3-azoles from hydropyridines in oxidative conditions.

[Chemical reaction: see text] Various substituted 2-aminotetrahydroazolopyridines and 2-aminohexahydroazolopyridines have been prepared by bromine-mediated addition of protected guanidine or urea to hydropyridine derivatives. The pH-dependent regioselective cleavage of the resulting aminal function led to the 2-aminoazole products III. The yields of the bicycles of type II, and their conversion into azoles III depends on the electronic properties of the substituents on the nitrogen of the tetrahydopyridine.